Sharpening a knife blade is pretty straightforward when you have the right tools. But if you don't, it can become a matter of creative thinking. Here are some of the best, and most creative, ways you can use the resources around you to sharpen your knife blade.

1. Bottom of a Mug
Find a ceramic coffee mug with a rough surface on the bottom. Hold the knife at 20-degree angle and rub the blade against the bottom of the mug. Your dull blade will be sharpened in no time!

2. Broken Glass Bottle
Any glass edge will work for this one! Hold your knife at a slight angle against the edge of your broken glass, then wipe it in the same direction a few times. It’s surprisingly easy and a great way to sharpen a knife quickly.

3. Slate or Cement
This is a great option if you’re outdoors and have access to slate or concrete. Find a flat surface and wipe your blade back and forth a few times.

The slate or cement is a great option for the larger blades like machetes and axes. These blades often will not require as precise an edge as most knives, so the more porous surface of the concrete should serve nicely.

For the other blades, you can't go wrong with ceramic and glass. Both surfaces are harder than steel, so pulling steel from your edge should come without any difficulty. Try them out the next time you get a chance to see how they compare to a standard whetstone.

For more tips like this, check out Survival Life.

Featured Image via Survival Life